Young Enterprise to host celebration and awards event at UCLan
Enterprising Lancashire students are hoping to impress a panel of judges at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) this week as they compete for a place in the Young Enterprise Company Programme Lancashire final.
Since last September, the schools have taken part in the programme which teaches 15-19 year-olds what it’s really like to set up and run a business from deciding on a company name, developing a product, designing a business plan and managing finances. The students also sell their products at trade fairs and ultimately wind up the company and pay their taxes, all under the guidance of a volunteer business advisor.
On Wednesday 3 May pupils from schools across Lancashire will display their products and services to a judging panel of four local business volunteers as they attempt to secure a place at the competition’s North West final in June, which will also be hosted by the University.
"This programme gives the next generation the chance to develop key employability skills at an early age and provides the young people with first-hand experience and insight into the range of roles and skills needed to run a business."
Lancashire Young Enterprise Manager Sally Hopkins said: “This programme gives the next generation the chance to develop key employability skills at an early age and provides the young people with first-hand experience and insight into the range of roles and skills needed to run a business. I’d like to offer a big thank you to local businesses such UCLan, Beaverbrooks, James Hall, Stonehouse Logic, Sumed, Biobag, Carradice, South Ribble Borough Council and Blackburn College who have offered their support to this event to ensure young people are given every chance to reach their potential.”
On the day BBC Radio Lancashire will be broadcasting live from the venue in support of Young Enterprise and the talented young people it works with. The winners will then represent the county at the Young Enterprise North West Company of the Year Awards, supported by HSBC, in June. For this, students will travel from Merseyside, Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Cumbria culminating in an amazing display of young talent across the region.
As the UK’s leading enterprise and financial education charity, this year over 26,000 students across the UK are taking part in the Young Enterprise Company Programme.
